Fantasy Island

But don't feel too bad. Your logic was sound, what with his 48 rushing yards in the first two games combined and the Dolphins seemingly in for another disastrous season.Plus the matchup at New England. All signs pointed toward a Foxboro flogging.

Brown ran for 113 yards scored a team-record four rushing touchdowns and threw for another score as 12 1/2-point underdog Miami stunned the Patriots 38-13. His output alone was probably worth around 40 fantasy points. Wow.

Brown seemed ready for a breakout last season, but was lost for the year after Week 7 because of a knee injury. He returned this season only to land in a platoon with the rejuvenated Ricky Williams.

So what to do with this fourth-year running back? The Dolphins discovered Brown's niche: the direct snap. Four of scores were accomplished that way. Don't expect this trickery to fool the Chargers after Miami's open date next week, but get Brown off your bench. Please.

Off course

Count out Carson Palmer? Who could suggest that?

He finally topped the 200-yard mark (286) and threw his first TD pass of the season, nearly leading the underdog Bengals to a shocking victory at Giants Stadium.

"It may sound crazy," Palmer said, "but we have improved."

True, but barely.

Cincinnati is still 0-3 with a tough schedule ahead. But Palmer seems to have found his groove with receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who's much quieter that Chad Ocho Cinco but, I think, better.

Houshmandzadeh had 12 grabs for 146 yards, including a key 17-yard score.

Better things are ahead for this tandem, they have to be. We've seen the worst.

Shipwreck

The Browns are busts. Picked as contenders, they're now in the NFL abyss known as the 0-3 start.

No team since the 1998 Bills has reached the playoffs after going winless through the first three games. Cleveland won't break that trend, thanks to Derek Anderson.

He threw three more picks Sunday to up his total to five against two TDs, the team's only touchdowns so far. He has thrown for a paltry 405 yards all season.

I was suspicious of Anderson's breakout, 29-TD campaign last season. He came out of nowhere, and seems to be headed right back there.

But he still has weapons in Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow. So give the lanky QB another shot to turn it around next week at Cincinnati, but another loss could very well mean it's Brady Quinn time.